Prospective Students
Welcome to Graduate Study at the University of Southern California
USC is a diverse community of scholars in the heart of Los Angeles — a dynamic center for technology, health services, media and the arts. USC has more than 400 graduate programs offered by the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and over 20 professional schools.
Explore USC graduate programs and get application information. Be sure to check out the website of the school or department to which you are applying.
Learn about funding options, eligibility for federal financial aid and estimated cost of attendance for your graduate education.
All new graduate students are invited to participate in Graduate Orientation. Topics covered include campus services, academic resources, and public safety. Your school or department may offer a separate orientation program geared to the specific topics such course selection and registration.
USC Graduate School is actively striving to diversify the graduate student body, to promote equity in our graduate programs, and to support the full inclusion of all students as they progress toward their professional goals.
DEGREES OFFERED
USC is a distinguished R1 research university that provides a wide range of academic programs.
Faculty with similar areas of knowledge and interest are grouped together to form schools (such as the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the USC Thornton School of Music and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering) and academic departments within the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences (such as Biology, English and Sociology). Certain areas of study are based on broad areas of interdisciplinary knowledge and draw faculty from several departments. The faculty in each department and school determines the rationale underlying its curricula, the type and content of courses it offers, and the requirements for master’s and doctoral degrees. USC awards Master of Arts, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees, as well as doctoral and master’s degrees in professional fields. Graduate students are encouraged to select their degree objective based on the career or further study they wish to pursue. View a list of all graduate degrees awarded at USC.
The PhD degree, conferred by the Graduate School, represents original contribution to current knowledge in a specific field. Prospective students are advised to contact their program of interest for course and research requirements. A list of current PhD degrees offered can be found here listed by School.
Please note that professional doctoral degrees—which prepare students for leadership and practice in the health professions, the arts, education, law and public welfare—follow policies established by their respective schools. Examples of professional doctorates not conferred by the Graduate School include:
- Doctor of Dental Surgery
- Doctor of Education
- Doctor of Medicine
- Doctor of Musical Arts
- Doctor of Nurse Anthesiology
- Doctor of Occupational Therapy
- Doctor of Pharmacy
- Doctor of Physical Therapy
- Doctor of Policy, Planning, and Development
- Doctor of Public Administration
- Doctor of Regulatory Science
- Doctor of Social Work
- Juris Doctor
View a list of current professional doctoral degrees offered organized by School.
Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees are granted in the arts, humanities and social sciences, while Master of Science (M.S.) degrees are granted in the natural sciences and professional fields. At USC, most of the M.A. degrees and many of the M.S. degrees are conferred by the Graduate School. Generally, master’s degrees for proficiency in professional fields are conferred by the professional school.
View the list of current master’s degrees offered.
The array of innovative dual degree programs at USC represents the university’s commitment to rigorous and vibrant graduate and professional education. Programs such as the Juris Doctor/Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Science, and Gerontology/Master of Business Administration, offer students the opportunity to work with faculty from two or more departments or schools. Please contact your program of interest for dual degree information.
The progressive master’s degree enables superior USC undergraduates with at least a 3.0 GPA to begin work on a master’s degree while completing requirements for the bachelor’s degree. The degrees should be in similar fields of study, in the same or different department(s). For additional information and application instructions, click here
Graduate Research Opportunities
Research at USC is distinguished by $889 million annually in 2018 in research expenditure for study in a wide array of disciplines, and an emphasis on collaboration across multiple disciplines to meet societal needs.
Examples of such collaboration include:
- Capturing and distributing energy supplies that are environmentally benign, economical and long-lasting
- Securing the nation and the world against the risks of natural disasters and intentional acts of terrorism
- Enhancing cross-cultural understanding and cooperation, through communication among civic, religious, ethnic and community institutions
- Establishing teaching practices that enable deeper understanding of science and math, languages and cultures, leadership and justice
USC Research centers
The Office of Research provides additional information about USC research initiatives, centers and facilities, and sources of research funding. Postdoctoral program information can be found at the USC Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.